Shore Acres Christmas lights

Anyone been to see these lights. Any recommendations about parking or where to eat beforehand. Thanks. Marlyne

Shore Acres Christmas lights

Haven%26#39;t been to their Christmas light display, but plan on going this year. When we were there during summer, there was tons of parking available on site. I don%26#39;t know how crowded this place gets though.

Sorry I can%26#39;t provide anymore info, this is more to remind me later about this.

Shore Acres Christmas lights

This is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE at least once!! It is truely an indescribable expericene that will be sure to set the mood for the entire Christmas season.

Parking can be pretty crowded on weekends, but during the week there is usually not a problem. Take a flashlight with you b/c if you end up parking at one of the spots farthest from the garden entrance, it can be quite dark.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Coos Bay area is in Charleston, just a few miles from the Park. The Fisherman%26#39;s Groto is located at the east end of the Charleston Bridge.

You can go to www.oregonstateparks.org for more informaion on Shore Acres and this year%26#39;s light show.

Den

Shore Acres is pretty cool especially with the lights. I%26#39;ve seen it a few times and it really gets me into the winter/CHristmas spirit.

I always like the Portside in Charleston. Its pretty spendy, but I thought it was really good and worth the price. It also has a nice view of the bay.

I have volunteered there the last two years and plan on it again this year. The lights are truly awesome. Each year with the donations they add more lights. Over the last few years they now have motion displays like a whale breeching, and a few others. Den is right that it is a little slow getting in on Friday and Saturday nights and pretty much every night the week before Christmas. People move through fairly quickly though. And after you stroll around looking at all the lights go into the small house there and see how all the rooms are decorated and get some hot cider or coffee and a cookie. Never know, it could be me behind the counter making cookie trays up or making cider and coffee. I think I gain 5 lbs. when I work there. Hey, you can%26#39;t serve broken cookies now, can you? LOL

As for a place to eat lets see.........

If you like Mexican food I recommend Los Dos Amigos in the Pony Village Mall in North Bend. Awesome food!!!! The Carne Asada is to die for. The wife loves their Chili Colorado.

If you like Mediterranean food the Cafe Mediterranean on Union in North Bend is very good. He was even on Rachael Ray%26#39;s $40 a day. ( www.cafemediterranean.net )

For Italian try Benetti%26#39;s in down town Coos Bay. If you like pasta bring a big appetite. Really good New York%26#39;s also. ( www.benettis.com )

For steaks and Cajun seafood try Oyster Cove Pub %26amp; Grill in Charleston. I have not eaten there yet and it is a bit pricy but I hear it is great. It was also featured on Rachael Ray%26#39;s $40 a day. ( www.oystercovepubandgrill.com )

For steaks and seafood the Portside in Charleston use to be really good. Haven%26#39;t been there in a few years but haven%26#39;t heard anything bad about them. I had some great prime rib there before. ( www.portsidebythebay.com )

And Oriental, my wife really likes Kum-Yon%26#39;s in downtown Coos Bay which is a nicer type of place. Myself I like the family style Tai%26#39;s Dynasty in North Bend.

The two restaurants in Charleston are fairly close to Shore Acres on the way out to it. The ones in Coos Bay and North Bend are farther away (about 15-20 minutes) from the Charleston area but pretty much go through them on your way to Shore Acres.

Hope this helps. Enjoy the lights and Oregon%26#39;s Bay area.

Thanks for all the great information. We will be at Shore Acres on December 20, 2006. We know we like Chuck%26#39;s smoked oysters in Charleston, so we probably will eat at a Charleston restaurant. My family owned a steak house at Pony Village around 35 years ago. This will be a nostalgic trip. My sister and husband and Mom will be meeting my husband and me.

The lights at Shore Acres truly are fantastic!!! The clam chowder and seafood platter at Portside was very good too. When we left Shore Acres, we had very few non-raining times. The waves were huge and we did get a little sunshine. The Oregon coast from Brookings north is hard to beat. Love it. Marlyne

And thank you for letting us know how it went.